The NBA season is in full swing. Games will continue on Monday as the Boston Celtics travel to battle it out with the Charlotte Hornets. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Celtics-Hornets prediction and pick.
Before the NBA season started, if someone were to guess which of these teams would be 3-0 and which would be 1-2 they would likely have guessed incorrectly. The Boston Celtics have struggled in their first three games. They got their first win of the season Sunday night against the Rockets. The Hornets have been on fire, starting off 3-0 and taking down some very tough opponents.
Here's how the bookmakers have set the line for Monday’s matchup.
NBA Odds: Celtics-Hornets Odds
*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)*
Boston Celtics: -1 (-110)
Charlotte Hornets: +1 (-110)
Over: 223.5 (-110)
Under: 223.5 (-110)
Why The Celtics Could Cover The Spread
Many people entered this season believing that the Boston Celtics could be on the verge of a championship run. They have the talent and ability to consistently win games against tough opponents. Boston has had a rough start to the season, but fans should still be optimistic about this team. The NBA regular season is long and the Celtics have plenty of time to get their act together and make a run in the playoffs. That all starts with this matchup against Charlotte. A win here for Boston could begin to shift momentum in the right way.
The Celtics are coming off their first win of the season. Granted it was against a rather weak Rockets team, it’s always important to get that first win. Boston managed to win even without one of their best players, Jaylen Brown, who sat out Sunday’s contest due to knee soreness. Momentum is huge in basketball. Losses can lead to more losses and wins can lead to more wins. The Boston Celtics will try and use the momentum of Sunday’s win and bring it into Monday’s game. They are a more than capable team. If Boston shows up and plays to their capabilities then they should be able to take care of business on the road.
The leader of this Celtics team is without a doubt Jayson Tatum. The 2017 third overall pick has gotten better every season. Tatum will be looking to take over this game and force the Hornets to adapt to his play. He’s coming off his best game of this young season. Tatum put up 31 and 9 rebounds against the Rockets. As he enters his fifth season in the NBA, Jayson Tatum wants to put the league on notice and cement himself as a superstar in this league. If Tatum can take over this game then it should be a long night for Charlotte.
Why The Hornets Could Cover The Spread
The Charlotte Hornets are a much better team than most people anticipated. They’re young, energized, and ready to put the league on notice. Their first game of the season was one of the most exciting games yet. Charlotte came back from down 16 and claimed victory over a tough Pacers team. They were able to take care of business against the Cavs in the following game. Their most recent victory was an impressive 16 point win against the Brooklyn Nets. This Hornets team is for real.
The breakout player for Charlotte has been Miles Bridges. It appears as if Bridges has finally taken the next step up in his NBA career. The fourth year forward is averaging career highs across the board and has been a big impact player for the Hornets. Bridges has scored 30 points in Charlotte’s last two contests and has been a big reason for their wins. Teams are being forced to adapt to the new NBA star. He will look to continue his breakout season against the Celtics. Bridges will be a big part of this game and if Boston can’t contain him then the Hornets should be able to win this game.
Another factor in this game will be the performance of LaMelo Ball. Ball was last year’s rookie of the year and is on pace to outdo his rookie campaign. While the young guard has struggled statistically in their last two games he still has a big impact on games. Ball can create opportunities for his teammates and do things that basic statistics don’t account for. Additionally, he is a scoring threat from anywhere on the field and has been showing great chemistry with Miles Bridges this season. LaMelo is one of the faces of this young Hornets team and will be looking to lead this team to a 4-0 start.
Final Celtics-Hornets Prediction & Pick
The Celtics have not proven that they are one of the best teams in the league this season. Their only win has come against a weak Rockets team. Charlotte, however, has proved that they can compete and win against the toughest competition. If both teams show up and play as well as they can, then this should be a great game. The line is set as if the bookmakers are still clinging to the image of the Celtics before the season had started. The Hornets have proven that they deserve respect and should be picked to win and cover this game. The over isn’t a bad bet either, this could easily be an offensive heavy game, but stick with Charlotte and you won’t be disappointed.
FINAL CELTICS-HORNETS PREDICTION & PICK: Charlotte Hornets +1 (-115)
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Hornets 117 – Celtics 110
Follow Us
Subscribe